Final answer:
The statement that the number of roots is equal to the highest degree of an equation is fundamentally true, considering all roots including complex ones. However, in practical applications, only the real and positive roots may be significant.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the number of roots in an equation is equal to the highest degree value of that equation is true, with some nuances. In the context of algebra, particularly when dealing with polynomials, the fundamental theorem of algebra states that a polynomial equation of degree n has exactly n roots, including complex roots and multiple roots counted with their multiplicity. However, this does not guarantee that all roots will be real numbers. For instance, a quadratic equation (which is a polynomial of degree 2) will always have two roots when counting complex roots, but these roots are not necessarily real. Furthermore, when considering real-world applications or physical data, equations might be constructed with constraints that give significance only to the positive real roots.
In terms of graphing, when you plot quadratic equations with real roots on a two-dimensional (x-y) graph, the points where the graph intersects the x-axis represent the real roots of the equation. It's important to understand not just the equations themselves but the underlying principles and how they apply in various contexts, as this helps in grasping the concept rather than just memorizing formulas.